Having dropped back-to-back contests to the San Francisco Giants and mired in an overall three-game losing streak, the Los Angeles Dodgers look to Clayton Kershaw to aid them in ending their road trip on a positive note.
While the Dodgers are on the downturn, the Giants are in position to win a sixth consecutive game and complete a three-game sweep at AT&T Park. Wednesday’s start is Kershaw’s third against the Giants this season.
He’s 1-1 in those outings, with a 2.77 ERA and 1.15 WHIP. The loss came at home, when Kershaw allowed four runs (three earned) on eight hits over six innings. The start is tied for Kershaw’s shortest this season.
Hunter Pence and Buster Posey homered off the left-handed ace in the Giants’ win at Dodger Stadium. Kershaw enters a lifetime 19-9 with a 1.66 ERA in 38 games (37 starts) against the Giants, including an 11-4 record and 1.36 ERA at AT&T Park.
In his last start, Kershaw notched his 20th career win against the Colorado Rockies, breaking a tie with Randy Johnson for most all-time. Overall this season, the 29-year-old is 6-2 with a 2.43 ERA and 0.95 WHIP.
San Francisco counters with Johnny Cueto, who faces Los Angeles for a third time in 2017. He started opposite Kershaw on May 1, allowing three runs on six hits in seven innings. Cueto earned the win.
Cueto also permitted three runs when he faced the Dodgers in a home start on April 26, that time going six innings, and not factoring into the decision of a Giants’ victory. The right-hander is 4-2 with a 4.15 ERA.
Cueto has surrendered at least one home run in five of his eight starts this season, including a minimum of one in two of his past four outings.
Chase Utley starts at first base and is leading off for the first time this season. The Dodgers lineup also sees the return of Corey Seager and Justin Turner, among others.
Dodgers lineup:
1B: Chase Utley
SS: Corey Seager
3B: Justin Turner
LF: Cody Bellinger
C: Yasmani Grandal
2B: Chris Taylor
CF: Joc Pederson
RF: Yasiel Puig
P: Clayton Kershaw
Giants lineup:
3B: Eduardo Nuñez
LF: Justin Ruggiano
SS: Christian Arroyo
C: Buster Posey
1B: Michael Morse
RF: Mac Williamson
2B: Joe Panik
CF: Gorkys Hernandez
P: Johnny Cueto
